Cooke: Special prosecutor to review Bibb audit | News

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Georgia's attorney general will appoint a special prosecutor to see if last week's Bibb schools audit shows evidence of crimes.

That's according to a statement released Monday by Bibb County District Attorney David Cooke. He says he will not handle the case, due to his connections to the Macon Promise Neighborhood program.

The audit released last week says former Supt. Romain Dallemand spent millions without school board approval, including money Promise Neighborhood projects.

Cooke's statement:

Earlier today I spoke to the State Attorney General's Office about the Bibb County School Board Audit released last Thursday, and the facts conveyed to me during my meeting with Bibb County School Board Superintendent Steve Smith and some members of the board. Based on our conversation, the Attorney General's Office will appoint a special prosecutor to determine whether or not continued investigation or prosecution is warranted.

The public deserves not only a result, but a process, that is honest, transparent and free from even the appearance of bias or impropriety. Before the audit was released, I was asked to, and agreed to, serve on the Champions' Board of the Promise Center, and I have attended meetings and events in that capacity. Since the Promise Center is one of the items at issue in the audit, it would not be proper for me to decide whether or not criminal charges are appropriate in this case. Therefore, I have requested that a neutral third party be appointed to make whatever decisions need to be made in this case.

With that in mind, any further questions about this case and it's status should be directed to the special prosecutor appointed by the Attorney General.